From:
mustylid@earthlink.net
Date: 2001-10-14 07:07:00 UTC
Subject: melatonin and adrenal disease
There actually was a study on adrenal ferrets and melatonin,
however a small study -- 10 ferrets. It was conducted by
Joanne Paul-Murphy and Robert O'Brien at the school of vet med
at University of Wisconsin, Madison. My information is taken
from the North American Veterinary Conference this past
January. The last two paragraphs of the one page synopsis are
as follows:
"In a recent study at the Uof W, 0.5 mg oral suspension of
melatonin was administered once daily to 10 ferrets with
confirmed adrenalcortical disease. Ferrets were examined
every four months for a year. In addition to clinical signs,
ultrasonographic measurement of the adrenal glands, sex
hormone concentrations and prolactin levels were measured.
Nine of the ten ferrets had moderate to dramatic improvement
in clinical signs including hair growth, reduction of vulva
swelling, or reduction of prostatic size. There was no
significant change in the size of the adrenal glands. Hormone
concentrations varied greatly between each ferret, but all had
one or more sex hormone with elevated plasma concentrations.
Mean values of estradiol, 17-OH progesterone and DHEAS
decreased after four months of treatment but at 8 and 12
months, the concentrations were higher than at initial levels.
Androstendione gradually increased in every ferret at each 4
month interval. Prolactin concentrations steadily decreased
throughout the 12 month period.
Ferrets with adrenocortical disease may benefit from treatment
with melatonin. This may involve melatonin's effect on
gonadotropin or prolactin secretion from the pituitary. Tumor
growth is not affected by administration of melatonin. Even
if tumor growth is not affected by the administration of
melatonin, there is improvement in the coat and quality of
life for ferrets with adrenocortical disease."
In lecture, she said that it will help temporarily, but
eventually the melatonin's effects would wear off.
Sandy
--- mustylid@earthlink.net